Welcome back for another week of 'Looking Ahead'! There is a depth forward in Boston drawing attention, a top defenceman in New Jersey with a chance to turn things around, and a bad upcoming schedule for the Los Angeles Kings. All this, and more, is going to be covered in today's article.

Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook

Who can be had on the waiver wire, and who should you avoid picking up? Peruse our fantasy hockey players’ outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: All stats are courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey. 

Mid-Season Adds (Claim these players on the waiver wire)

Alex Wennberg, C, San Jose Sharks, Rostered-34.1%

            Alex Wennberg's success this season has recently earned him a long-term extension with San Jose. He has always been an elite playmaker but now he is getting the opportunity to produce on a young Sharks team.

Alexandre Texier, RW, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-6.5%

            After being signed mid-season following a release from St. Louis, Alex Texier just recently inked himself a new two-year deal which will keep him in Montreal. He has found success on the team’s top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Fantasy managers should take note of the Frenchman’s recent offensive explosion.

Young Players to Build Off (Young players who are hot right now)

Fraser Minten, C, Boston Bruins, Rostered-3.4%

            After being acquired from the Maple Leafs, youngster Fraser Minten has begun to carve out a solid role for himself in Boston, and his offensive production has picked up as of late. He still isn't relevant in most fantasy formats but he's a player to keep an eye on.

Benjamin Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rostered-4,9%

            The 2025 first round pick by the Penguins, Ben Kindel wasn't expected to make the team out of camp. However, the rookie has been a key part of Pittsburgh's success this season. He sometimes gets top PP time and in larger leagues he can be a solid depth addition to any fantasy team.

Buy-Now Players (You should trade for these players as soon as possible)

Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils, Rostered-64%

            Dougie Hamilton has had a nightmare 2025-26 campaign. He is on pace for one of the worst seasons of his career and was recently a healthy scratch by the Devils. However, his last few games since returning to the lineup have seen some offensive success. With his name in trade rumors, now is the time to buy on Hamilton as he hopes to find himself in a better situation on a contending team.

Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers, C, Rostered-80.7%

            After being snubbed from the Team Canada Olympic roster, Sam Bennett is playing with a chip on his shoulder. His offensive impact is night and day from what we saw earlier this season. With the injury to Brayden Point, don't expect Bennett's play to slow down as he looks to earn his place in the Olympics as a reserve for his country.

Steer Clear (Players you should avoid in fantasy leagues, or trade immediately if you own them)

Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks, Rostered-95.4%

            Pettersson was once a top round pick in fantasy, but his value has dropped significantly over the past two seasons. It is unclear whether or not he can regain the franchise level status he once carried. For now, managers should extract any value they can out of him on the trade market as he isn't providing consistent offense.

Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks, Rostered-53.6%

            Another Canuck who is struggling, Brock Boeser had gone goalless in his previous 21 contests before scoring on Thursday night. Vancouver and most of its players have hit rock bottom and the loss of Quinn Hughes has played a big factor in their fantasy output. Steer clear of Boeser and any of his teammates in the near future.

NHL Team Outlooks

Analyzing the upcoming week’s schedule and looking at which NHL teams are expected to have a strong week and who will be in tough. Which teams’ players should you be buying stock in, and which teams should you avoid at all costs? Take a peek at our team outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: This week’s analysis runs from Jan 16-22. The weekly fantasy matchup runs from Jan 19-25. Teams that play more games during the week/matchup often gain favor in the schedule analysis.

Matchup Favorites (These teams will pay dividends in the coming games.)

Edmonton Oilers

            After a poor start to the year, Edmonton is back on track, and their starting goaltender Tristan Jarry has now returned from injury. Expect the Oilers' upcoming homestand to yield some points in the standings.

Ottawa Senators

            The Senators have fallen out of the playoff picture in recent weeks. However, they have won two straight, and their upcoming schedule could allow them to leapfrog some teams in the Eastern Conference.

Tampa Bay Lightning

            The Lightning look unstoppable right now as they've won 11 straight contests. They should continue to pad their lead atop the Atlantic Division as they face some struggling teams in the upcoming games.

Matchup Killers (Avoid players from these teams at all costs in the upcoming games.)

Los Angeles Kings

            The Kings are struggling a bit down the stretch. While the Western Conference playoff race is still wide open, their thin upcoming schedule likely won't help matters.

St. Louis Blues

            The Blues just lost their top player, Robert Thomas for at least the next couple of weeks. The timing couldn't be worse as they face some tough opponents in the coming games.

Utah Mammoth

            Utah's recent stretch has them back in the wild card position. However, they have a thin upcoming schedule which doesn't bode well for their players’ fantasy value.

*For more hockey and fantasy coverage, follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Cdesjardins67